Sport and Crime in Trinidad

Nina Robinson investigates for Assignment whether the government of Trinidad and Tobago is on the right track by using engagement in sport as a way of tackling an escalating crime rate.

Murders have increased on the islands five-fold over the last decade as more and more young people are being sucked into drugs gangs and robbery. Over three hundred million US dollars is being spent on sport over the next two years, on refurbishing sports centres and also on a street basketball league called ‘Hoop of Life’.

The league offers an attractive million dollar prize money for the winning team and it is hoped that more young people will be tempted into sport as a result.

It is the brainchild of Jack Warner – Trinidad and Tobago’s new national security minister who comes with a high profile but controversial background in sport. He resigned last year as Vice President of FIFA amid allegations of bribery and corruption.

Is he the best person to be leading Trinidad’s fight against crime and will his use of sport as a crime-fighting tool really work?